‘The Smiling Jesus and the Laughing Kenneth’ by Ray Cates (Adolphus)

It was all confidential, “What is said in group stays in group’, but Kenneth would murder, will murder, and may have murdered.

I have to get my mind off all the murder and focus on what my female partner and I are doing with fifteen adolescent addicts. Our purpose is the 12 step process and making our group of kids clean and sober.

The fact is for 45 days Kenneth confessed unnamed murders.

His parents came for Parents Week, and say, ‘Kenneth lies.”

I listen, as leader of the group, all night often, to Kenneth’s confessions of muggings and robberies.  Confidential?

Or lies?

Seventeen of us hear details.  Then even the parents sit in group and hear all the bloody stories.

Kenneth is a large 17.

He is a different race from his parents, although what does that matter?

Kenneth leaves sober and swearing by The Big Book.  His parents think his counselors have a “Wonderful genius”.  My partner smiled and shook their hands at graduation.  Kenneth got his certificate and aftercare.  He followed the rules at his after care in Fort Lauderdale. 

But was alcohol his main problem?  His other problem was a sworn secret.

I’m left with nightimes of a laughing Kenneth smacking old people in the head with a piece of pipe, and walking away with their cashed checks.  Not waiting to see if they ‘bled out’. 

He never needed any money.  What he did was for fun, not drugs.  The rest of his group found it hard to relate.

 

Contact the author at: rcates2@cox.net   or fax him at: 1-352-629-1573

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